Needle threader



April2s,1942. P CHRlST 2,281,180

NEEDLE THREADER Filed May 9. 1940 l Patented pr.28,1942

Aid Manufacturing Company, East Orange, N. J .,'a partnership of New Jersey Application May 9, 1940, serial No. 334,295-

(ci. 22a-99) 8 Claims.

This invention relates to needle threaders, and more particularly, to such for threading various types of needles by hand.

Needle threaders used prior to this invention were complicated-in construction and diilicult to use. Many, while being designed to aid-blind people or those having poor eyesight, to thread a needle, actually failed in this purpose due to the fact that they would not thread a needle without adjustments which required the use of the operator's eyes. Also, many of these needle threaders used in the past were not durable and would break or become inoperative after short usage.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invenpensive to construct and simple to assemble.

A further object of the invention is to provide tion to provide a needle threader which may be a needle threader which maybe used to thread a needle when one end of the thread is fastenedl to a spool, thread holder, or the material being sewed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts, will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In accomplishing the above and other objects, a body portion, preferably composed of two complementaryparts, recessed at one edge to pro--v vide a finger rest, is formed with a longitudinally extending central aperture.

A plunger is operable within said longitudin aperture and is adapted to be pressed inwardly in respect to said body portion against Aa spring seated on a shoulder, rotation of .the plunger being prevented by a projection on said body portion received in a longitudinal groove in the plunger, or Vice versa. The inner end of the plunger carries a hook of thin metal especially designed to position a needle when inserted in a receiving recess, extending transversely of the body portion and merging with the longitudinal portion is positioned at the end of the body portion adjacent the needle-receiving recess, so that the hook crosses the same when moved forwardly,

- or backwardly, and a thread placed in said notch,

`opening or slit, extending longitudinally of and communicating with the needle-receiving recess, is provided.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection -with the accompanying drawing, showing by way of example a preferred embodiment of ther invention,l and in which:

Figure l is an exploded perspective view of the separate parts of a device embodying my vinvention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a needle threader produced by assembling the parts shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevation 'of the device of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the interior of the .needle threader, after removal of one half of thebody portion.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Figure 4, in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged elevational view of the preferably composed of two complementary parts I0 and II, having therein substantially centrally located semi-cylindrical longitudinal recesses I2 and I3 which, when the parts are assembled,

y form a cylindrical aperture I4.

aperture adjacent the hook-end of the plunger. y

The axis of the needle-receiving recess is disposed substantially at right angles to the axis of the plunger. The forward end of the hook is rounded, as is the top of the notch, so that said hook may freely pass forwardly and backwardly through y the eye of the needle and the thread, received thereby, may be easily released. A thread receiving notch extending from side to side of the body 55 The part Il has projections I5 adapted to fit into pockets or holes I6 in the other part I0, so

that said parts may be placed in the proper posil tion in relation to one another when they are assembled.

I1 of the aperture I4 is of smaller section, forming a spring seat I8.

One of the parts of the body portion, such as I I, is formed with a projection I9 adapted to be received in an integral grooved portion of a plunger 2I, which is mounted for reciprocating movement in the aperture I4. The projection I9 serves as a guide for the plunger 2|, preventing it from turning. One end of the plunger 2|, when the needle threader is in its retracted position, extends beyond the end of the body portion and has a head 22 thereon.

The inner or opposite end portion of the plunger is reduced in section at 23 forming a spring seat 24. A spring is interposed between the spring seat i8 in the aperture I4 and the spring seat 24 on the plunger 2l, so that when the plunger is pressed inwardly the spring 25 is placed under compression. The plunger, of

course, may be formed of a metal such as brass -f or molded plastic or like material.

On the reduced end 23 of the plunger 2l is a iiexible hook member 26 made of a comparatively thin metal, preferably spring steel, one end 21 being fastened in a'slot 28 in the reduced end of the plunger 2l, or molded in the plunger if the same is formed of plastic, the opposite end 29 coming to a rounded point 30 (Figure 6). The end portion 29 has a notch 3l therein, said notch being defined by the inclined hook edges 32 and 33, the edge 33 slanting slightly backward toward the end 21 of the hook member.

The junctions between the edge 337 and the edge 32 and the adjacent rounded point 30, are both rounded. The notch 3|, defined by the edges 32 and 33, is comparatively shallow, being of a depth sufficient to accommodate an average size thread.

The hook member 2S is guided in its reciproeating movement between bosses 34 and 35, the boss 34 being formed on the part I0 and the boss 35 on the part II, these bosses being disposed adjacent and extending towards one another in the reduced section l1 of the aperture I4. The

inner edges of the bosses 34 and 35 are spaced apart to form a slot 36 of suicient width to guidingly allow the hook member 26 to slide therethrough when the plunger 2l is depressed, so as to prevent undesired lateral displacement thereof. The bosses are formed wedge shaped in longitudinal section, with the rear walls, or those facing the hook member 25, sloping gradually to merge with the reduced section I1, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5, so that even if the member 26 gets bent it will not be stopped by said bosses but be guided to the narrow space therebetween, from whence it will pass through the eye of a properly positioned needle.

'Ihe parts I0 and I I are formed so as to provide a needle-holding aperture 31 which extends transversely from one side of the body portion to the reduced section I1 of the aperture I4, adjacent the end of the hook portion 26. The aperture 31 is in communication with the reduced section I1 and its axis desirably extends perpendicularly to the axis of the aperture I4. Half of the aperture 31 is desirably defined by the part I0 of the body portion and the other half by the part II. A needle seat 38 is formed in the body portion, opening into the section I1 directly in line with the aperture 31. This needle seat is preferably punched or stamped in the body portion of the needle threader, after the parts are assembled.

The seat 38 of a depth corresponding with the kind of needles to be threaded and elongated in section or formed to correspond with the elongated or iiattened section of the eye end of such needles, so that each needle, if not dropped in place with its eye alined with the aperture I4, will turn to place itself in position to receive the hook 26.

The end of the body portion adjacent the aperture 31 has an extension 39, from the side carrying the seat 38, in which is formed a threadreceiving recess d0. The reduced aperture portion I1 extends slightly into said extension.

A thread escape opening 4I is positioned in the end of the body adjacent the needle-receiving aperture 31 and extends longitudinally of said aperture and communicates therewith.

One side of the body portion of the needle threader is recessed at 42 to provide a nger rest for the operator of the device.

In assembling the needle threader embodying my invention, the spring 25 is placed upon the reduced portion 23 of the plunger 2|, the hook member 2li having previously been fastened within the slot 28 on the reduced end of said plunger. The plunger is then placed within the recess I3 of the part II of the body port-ion with the projection I9 extending into the groove or slot 2U in the plunger. One end of the spring 25 engages the spring seat I 8 of the recess I3 and the other end engages the spring seat 24- oi the'plunger 2|. The other part I0 is then placed upon the part II, the projections I5 lltting into the holes I6 in the part I0. The abutting faces may be fastened together by cement or any other suitable means.

In the operation of the threader, a needle is placed in the aperture 31, the eye end of the needle being moved inwardly until it engages the seat 38. The needle threader is then held in one hand by the operator, his thumb engaging the head 22 of the plunger I4, one nger resting in the recess 42, and another nger engaging the opposite side of the needle threader. The plunger is then depressed by the thumb, the hook member sliding between the hook guides 34 and 35, and through the eye of the needle. If it should so happen that the needle is positioned so far inwardly that the eye opening is not in exact alignment with the hook member 26, the rounded point 3D on the end 29 of the hook member will engage the eye, sliding the needle a sufcient distance outwardly, so that the hook may pass through the eye.

Should a needle placed in the aperture 31 be slightly turned so that the eye is not in alignment with the end 30 of the hook member, the hook member will bend slightly to engage the eye, the spring `tension in said hook member tending to turn the needle, so that it comes into exact alignment therewith. However, inaccurate placing of needles is avoided by the automatic needle-positioning seat 38.

The bosses 34 and 35, which are closely adjacent the needle eye when the needle is in position in the needle threader, accurately guide the comparatively thin, flexible hook member 26 into the needle eye.

When the plunger has been fully depressed, the end 29 of the hook member projects across the thread-receiving slot 40. A thread is then placed within said slot and drawn across the hook member 26.

-When pressure is released from the plunger 2|, the same moves outwardly, drawing the thread through the needle eye. Since the notch 3l is comparatively shallow, the same being lled by a thread of normal size, thethread within this notch and the rounded edge at the juncture between the edge 33 and the side of the rounded point 30, causes the needle eye to again come into alignment and allow the thread and hook to pass therethrough, should the needle be positioned too far inwardly. The edge 33 dening the notch 3| is slanted away from the point 30, so that the notch will grasp the thread securely but at the same time, when the pressure is released, allow the thread to be easily pulled off the hook.

Ihe needle isthen removed threaded from the needle holding aperture '31. Should one end of the thread be attached to a spool, or a piece of material, the thread may be withdrawn from theA site sides of said hooked member, and disposed at the side of the needle-holding aperture opposite to that of thread-receiving recess, whereby when the plunger is depressed the hooked member will be accurately guided through thel eye of a needle held insaid needle-holding aperture.

3. A needle threader comprising a body portion composed of complementary side-members and having a thread-receiving .recess at one end thereof, a needle-holding aperture in said body portion between said thread-receiving recess and the opposite'end of the body portion, an velongated aperture extending. through said body portion transversely to said 'thread-receiving recess -and in communication with said needleholding aperture, a seat adapted to receive the eye end portion of a needle and disposed in said elongated' aperture adjacent to and in alignment with said needle-holding aperture, said seat cor- 1 responding in section with the eye ends of needles to be threaded so as to, if necessary, turn said needles to proper`position for threading, a

plunger having a slot therein reciprocably amounted within said elongated aperture, a

1. A needle threader comprising a body portion having a thread-receiving recess at one end thereof, a needle-holding aperture in said body portion between said thread-receiving recess and the opposite end of the body portion, Ian elongated aperture extending through said body portion transversely to said thread-receiving recess and in communication with said needleholding aperture, a plunger reciprocably mounted within said elongated aperture, guide means integral with and disposed in said body portion slidably engaging said plunger to prevent the same from turning in said elongated aperture, a flexible hooked member attached to the inner end of said plunger and adapted to pass across said thread-receiving recess yand receive i a thread, guide members with converging hookfacing sides projecting from opposite sides of said elongated aperture toward the center thereof, leaving only a narrow slit therebetween and lying on opposite sides of said hooked member when the latter is advanced to pass through a needle eye, and disposed at the side of the nee- .dle-holding aperture opposite to that of threadreceiving recess, whereby when the plunger is depressed the hooked member will be accurately guided through the eye of a needle held in said needle-holding aperture.

2. A needle threader comprising a'body portion composed of complementary side members and having a thread-receiving recess at one end thereof, a needle-holding aperture in said body portion between said thread-receiving recess, and the oppositeend of the body portion, an elongated aperture extending through said body portion transversely to said thread-receiving recess and in communication with said needleholding aperture, a plunger reciprocably mounted within said elongated aperture, guide means in said body portion slidably engaging said plunger to prevent the same from turning in said elongated aperture, a exible hooked member attached to the inner end of said plunger and adapted to pass across said thread-receiving recess and receive a thread, guide members projecting from opposite sides of said elongated aperture toward the center thereof to the oppospring `bearing against said plunger and said body portion,v so that it is compressed when the plunger is depressed, guide means projecting into said elongated aperture and slidably4 received in the slot in said plunger lto prevent the latter from turning, a hooked member attached to the inner end of said plunger and adapted to pass across said thread-receiving recess and receive a thread, wedge shaped guide members projecting from opposite sides of 'said elongated aperture toward the opposite sides of said hooked member, defining a guiding aperture converging to a narrow slit, and positioned at the side of the needle-holding aperture opposite to that of thread-receiving recess, whereby when the plunger is depressed the hooked member will be accurately guided through the eye of a needle held in said needle-holding aperture.

4. A needle threader comprising a body portion composed of complementary side members and having a thread-receiving recess at one end thereof, a needle-holding aperture in said body portion between said thread-receiving recess and the opposite end of the body portion, thread escape means comprising a slot through one side only of said needle-holding aperture and extending from the top to the bottom thereof, an elongated aperture extending through said body portion transversely to said thread-receiving recess and in communication with said needle-holding aperture, a seat adapted to receive the eye end portion of a needle and disposed in said elongated aperture adjacent to and in alignment with said needle-holding aperture, a plunger having a slot and reciprocably mounted within said elongated aperture, a spring bearing against said plunger and said body portion so that it is compressed when the'plunger is depressed, guide means projecting into said elongated aperture and slidably received in the slot in said plunger to prevent the latter from turning, a exible hooked member attached to the inner end of said plunger and adapted to pass across said thread-receiving recessv and receive a thread, guide members projecting from opposite `sides of said elongated aperture toward said hooked member, and positioned at the side of the needle-holding aperture opposite to that of thread-receiving recess, whereby when the plunger is depressed the hooked member will be accurately guided through the eye of a needle held in said needle-holding aperture.

5. A needle threader comprising a body portion composed of complementary side members and having a thread-receiving recess at one end thereof, a needle-holding aperture in said body portion between said thread-receiving recess and the opposite end of the body portion, an elongated aperture extending through said body portion transversely to said thread-receiving recess and in communication with said needle-holding aperture, a seat adapted to receive the eye end portion of a needle in said elongated aperture adjacent to and disposed in alignment with said needle-holding aperture, a plunger having' a slot and reciprocably mounted within said elongated aperture, a spring bearing against said plunger and said body portion so that it becomes compressed when the plunger is depressed, guide means projecting into said 4elongated aperture and slidably engaging the slot in said plunger to prevent the same from turning, a hooked member attached to the inner end of said plunger and adapted to pass across said thread-receiving recess and receive a thread, the notch in said member being of sufficient depth to receive a thread, the edge of the end portion of said hooked mem,- ber denng said notch being slanted slightly toward said plunger and rounded at the junction with the edge of the portion beyond said notch, the end portion of said hook member being tapered from said notch and terminating in a, rounded end portion, guide members projecting from opposite sides of said elongated aperture toward the center thereof to the opposite sides of said hooked member and positioned at the side of the needle-holding aperture opposite to that of thread-receiving recess, whereby when the plunger is depressed the hooked member will be accurately guided through. the eye of a needle held in said needle-holding aperture.

6. A needle threader comprising a body portion composed of complementary side members and having a thread-receiving recess at one end thereof, a needle-holding aperture in said body portion between said thread-receiving recess and the opposite end of the body portion, an elongated aperture extending through said body portion transversely to said thread-receiving recess and in communication with said needle-holding aperture, a molded plunger reciprocably mounted within said elongated aperture, guide means in said body portion slidably engaging said plunger to prevent the same from turning in said elongated aperture, a hook member molded into the inner end of said plunger and adapted to pass across said thread-receiving recess and receive a thread, guide members projecting from opposite sides of said elongated aperture toward said hooked member and positioned at the side of the needle-holding aperture opposite to that of thread-receiving recess, whereby when the plunger is depressed the hooked member will be accurately guided through t-he eye of a needle held in said needle-holding aperture.

'7. A needle threader comprising a body portion having a transverse thread-holding recess adjacent one end thereof, a transverse needle-holding recess between said thread-holding recess and the other end of said body portion, and a longitudinal aperture extending through said body portion and communicating with said needle-holding recess and said thread-holding recess, a exible hooked member reciprocably mounted within said longitudinal recess and adapted to pass through said thread-holding recess, and bosses extending into said aperture to engage opposite sides of said hooked member near said needle-holding recess, to guide said member through the eye of a needle in said recess.

8. A needle threader including a housing consisting of a plastic molded to form complementary parts, one of said parts having molded projections and the other sockets in which said projections are adapted to fit for holding the parts in proper assembled relationship, said molded parts having complementary recesses which, when assembled, define a longitudinal bore, one of said parts being formed so that a molded projection extends into its recess, a generally cylindrical plunger movable in said bore, said plunger having a groove in which said projection ts to prevent relative rotation therebetween while allowing limited movement, a spring in the bore of said housing normally urging said plunger outwardly, guide means in said housing receptive of a needle, a socket molded in said housing to align the eye of a positioned needle with said bore, and a flexible hook on the inner end of said plunger adapted to pass through the eye of a needle when disposed in said socket, and molded bosses, one in each housing part, beyond the retracted position of the hook, wedge shaped in longitudinal section, presenting faces to said hook gradually converging from the bore-defining recesses to a narrow slit between bosses for accurately guiding said hook, even if bent, to the eye of a positioned needle.

PHILIPP CHRIST. 

